Shakur Stevenson doesn’t know what to make of the confidence his opponent Artem Harutyunyan has shown in the final days before their fight on Saturday, July 6th.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs), WBC lightweight champion, is accustomed to his opponents looking a little timid, but Harutyunyan (13-1, 7 KOs) hasn’t shown any signs of fear in the build-up to their twelve-round contest at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
A facade or genuine self-belief?
It could be that Harutyunyan is a good actor and is hiding his fear well so that his younger opponent, Shakur, won’t notice. But another factor could be that he’s not afraid because Shakur lacks punching power, and throws only single shots before running away.
That’s his style, and it’s been his approach to fights since his amateur days. Harutyunyan knows he’s going to have to work hard on offense to land punches against the fleet-footed Shakur because he’s not going to stand in front of him, even though he’s talked about wanting to go for a knockout.
Shakur Warns Harutyunyan Not to Get Tired
In Shakur’s last fight against Edwin De Los Santos last November, he only threw weak punches and looked wary of being clipped by his opponent’s heavy shots. Against De Los Santos, Shakur didn’t dare sit down on his punches.
“He better not get tired in there,” said Shakur Stevenson to Top Rank Boxing, talking about his opponent Artem Harutyunyan for Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey. “That’s the one thing he better not do.”
“He’s not dealing with reality. When reality sets in, he won’t be laughing. Fear will set in,” said Wali Moses, the trainer for Shakur, giving his view on Harutyunyan.
“I don’t think he’s scared,” said Shakur about Harutyunyan. “I don’t think you realize what it really is until you get in there.”
“Right now, you’re just another opponent to him,” said Moses. “When he’s looking like that, and I commend him for that. He’s going to need it.”
“He ain’t really thinking he’s going to win,” said Shakur, trying to smile but clearly confused and annoyed about the confidence Harutyunyan is showing. “It’s a trick.”
Artem Harutyunyan: “The fear, I can smell it.”
Shakur Stevenson: “I don’t have none, brother. I’m not going to lie to you. And you small, too. You got a big a** head.”
Harutyunyan: “Yeah, I told you we’re the same size. Yeah, easy to hit, yeah?”
Shakur: “You been doing your sit-ups?”
Harutyunyan: “What’s sit-ups? Ah, sit-ups. Ah, you want to go to my body.”
Shakur: “Have you been doing your sit-ups?”
Harutyunyan: “What kind of joke? Okay, yes, I have.”
Shakur: “Alright, I just wanted to make sure, man. We’re going to test it out.”
Harutyunyan: “Ah, okay.”
Shakur: “Watch this guy. Funny guy.”
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